Sanitary tumbler cover and coaster



y 9, 1936. C. w. MEINECKE 2,041,563

SANITARY TUMBLER COVER AND COASTER Filed Oct. 12, 1935 INVENTOR CHRIST/AN W ME/NECKE ATTORNEYS Fatented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SANITARY TUMBLER COVER AND COASTER Application October 12, 1935, Serial No. 44,638

5 Claims This invention relates to a combination tumbler .cover and coaster and more particularly to an article of the above type having sanitary features which render the same particularly useful for 5 hospital use.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination tumbler cover and coaster, having a top surface adapted to receive a glass when the article is used as a coaster and to retain liquid which may drip from the glass so as to prevent the same from falling into the glass or tumbler when the article is again used as a cover..

Another object is to provide a device of the above character, which is adapted for use as a .5 coaster or tumbler cover and is also adapted to serve as a coaster or tray fora medicine glass. Another object is to provide a combination coaster and tumbler cover which is adapted to serve as a tray for medicines, such as pills and 50 the like.

' Another object is to provide a combination article of the above type which is adapted to serve as a coaster or cover for glasses of different sizes. l

Another object is to provide a cheap, simple, convenient and sanitary device of the above character.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention, will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages and the manner of its organization,

will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a combination m tumbler cover and coaster constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the article used as a tumbler cover.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section showing the article used as a coaster. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the article w used as a tray for a medicine glass.

Referring to the drawing more in detail the combination tumbler cover and coaster is shown as comprising a base or horizontal surface l0 having a peripheral rim ll formed thereon and provided with sloping sides l2 which form a central recess 9 adapted to receive the bottom of a tumbler I3 or the like, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The base I0 is provided with a central depressed portion I having sloping sides l5 forming a recess l6 adapted to receive the bottom of a medicine glass I? or the; like, as illustrated in Fig. 5. 5

The recess I6 is surrounded by a raised flange l8 which is adapted to engage and support the under surface IQ of the tumbler IS. The base i0 is also provided with a plurality of radial tabs 28 which are adapted to engage and support the 10 bottom rim 2| of the tumbler l3. The tabs 20 are preferably of lesser elevation than the flange i8 so that the rim 2| may rest on the tabs while the flange I8 enters the central recess 22 which is commonly formed in the bottom of a tumbler.

It is evident that-the flange l8 and the tabs may be variously disposed and may be of the same elevation if desired, depending upon the type of tumbler which is to be supported thereby. In certain instances the tabs 20 may be omitted and 20 the tumbler may rest directly upon the flange I8. It is also to be understood that the flange l8 and the tabs 29 may both be omitted in some instances and the tumbler allowed to rest directly upon the base It. The particular contour of the coaster portion above described may be varied as desired. The sloping sides l2 provide space around A the edge of the tumbler l3 to permit the liquid which may drip down the outer surface of the tumbler to enter the central recess 9 instead of 30 engaging the rim II and dripping down the outside of the coaster.

A downwardly extending peripheral flange 25 is formed around the periphery of the rim I I and. is adapted to extend around the sides of the tumbler when the device is used as a tumbler cover, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 or to rest on a supporting surface when the device is used as a coaster. The under surface 26 of the base in is suitably formed to seat on the top of the tumbler for this purpose.

A centraldepressed portion 21 is also formed on the under side of the device opposite the central recess l6 above mentioned. This central depressed portion is preferably of a size adapted to flt into the top of a medicine glass so as to permit the device to be used as a medicine glass cover. The space between the depressed portion 21 and the flange 25 also forms a recess 28 in which the top of the tumbler is adapted to seat when the device is used as a tumbler cover.

The recess I6 is formed sufiiciently deep so that it may serve as atray to receive pills or the like when desired. It is particularly useful for this purpose when the device is used as a tumbler 55 cover, inasmuch as pills are usually served with a glass of water. They may be accordingly put in the recess l6 and the device placed over the tumbler as shown in Fig. 3, when served to the patient. Thereafter the device may be placed ,upon the table or the like and used as a coaster to receive the tumbler, as illustrated in Fig. 4. If any drippings from the tumbler should accumulate in the central recess they will be retained therein and will not be permitted to spill into the tumbler when the device is again placed on the top of the tumbler as a cover therefor.

It is obvious that the device may be used as a medicine glass tray as illustrated in Fig. 5, either independently or when the medicine is to 'be served in combination with water. In the latter case the device is placed on the tumbler of water as a cover and the medicine glass is inserted in the recess l6.

It is obvious that the particular form of the device may be changed as desired, although the embodiment described above has been found particularly satisfactory for the purposes specified. It is also obvious that the device may be constructed of any desired plastic material, such for example as glass, molded phenol condensation product or the like.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is only to be limited in accordance with the following claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A combination tumbler cover and top coaster comprising a base having a raised peripheral rim forming a central recess adapted to receive the bottom of a tumbler, a central depressed portion below the level of said base forming a recess adapted to receive the bottom of a medicine glass or to serve as a tray for pills or the like, and a raised flange of lesser elevation than said peripheral rim surrounding said central recess and adapted to engage and support the bottom of the tumbler.

2. A combination tumbler cover and top coaster comprising a base having a raised peripheral rim forming a central recess adapted to receive the bottom of a tumbler, a central depressed portion forming a recess adapted to receive the bottom of a medicine glass or to serve as a tray for pills or the like, a raised flange surrounding said central recess and a plurality of raised tabs located between said flange and said rim, said flange and tabs being adapted to engage and support the bottom of the tumbler.

3. A combination tumbler cover and top coaster comprising a base having a raised peripheral rim forming a central recess adapted. to receive the bottom of a tumbler and a central depressed portion forming a recess adapted to receive the bottom of a medicine glass or to serve as a tray for pills or the like, a raised flange surrounding said central recess, and a plurality of raised tabs located between said flange and said rim, said tabs being of lesser elevation than said flange whereby the flange is adapted to enter a central recess in the bottom of said tumbler and said tabs are adapted to support the bottom rim of the tumbler.

4. A combination tumbler cover and coaster comprising a base having a depending peripheral flange adapted to seat around the top of a tumbler, and a central depressed portion on the bot? tom adapted to seat within a medicine glass, the

top oi said base having a raised peripheral rim forming a central recess to receive the bottom of a tumbler and having a lower central recess surrounded by a raised flange of lesser elevation than said peripheral rim adapted to receive a medicine glass or the like.

5. A combination tumbler cover and a coaster comprising a base having'a depending peripheral flange adapted to seat around the top of a tumbler, and a central depressed portion on the bottom adapted to seat within a medicine glass, the top of said base having a raised peripheral rim forming a recess to receive the bottom of a tumbler and having a lower central recess surrounded by a raised flange of lesser elevation than said peripheral rim adapted to receive a medicine glass or the like, both of said recesses having means to receive the drippings from the outer side of the glass or tumbler and to prevent said drippings from spilling over the periphery of the device.

CHRISTIAN W. MEINECKE. 

